Food Wars: Man vs. Meat

As Florida aims to ban cell-based meat and the carnivore diet gains traction, we take a look at the history and controversy of animal products and the age old debate about plant-based diets.

Meat has been a controversial topic in the health and wellness space for many years. The rise of vegan and vegetarian diet trends, the explosion of plant-based meat alternatives, and the subsequent backlash from the carnivore crowd has seeped into social media, podcasts, scientific studies, and the venture capital ecosystem. The topic of fake meat has even made its way into political discourse as Florida has become the first state to put forth legislation to ban and criminalize the production and sale of cell-cultivated meat.

Humans are naturally omnivorous creatures, but recent developments in the food and health landscape have dramatically altered the way we think about meat in our diets. For some background, I want to lay out why exactly we have evolved to include both plants and animals in our diet as well as highlight the main arguments for both plant-based and carnivore diets.

Observations on human physiology, evolutionary history, and dietary needs have led scientists to believe that humans are naturally omnivorous due to physiological evidence, nutritional requirements, evolutionary history, anthropological observations, and dietary flexibility. Our digestive systems can efficiently process both plants and animals and we require nutrients that are found in both types of food. For example, B12 is an essential nutrient for nerve function and blood formation that is naturally found in significant amounts only in animal products.

There are many essential vitamins and minerals found in red meat.

Another key indicator of our omnivorous tendencies is our teeth: we have incisors and canines for biting/ripping and molars for chewing. One of the leading theories to how we evolved past our closest evolutionary ancestors, chimpanzees, is that as we became long distance runners and were able to hunt down animals until they tired, leading to higher protein consumption which allowed our brains to develop further than the monkeys we descended from. As certain species transitioned to eating more meat and marrow, we began to see biological features often linked to meat-eating, such as a decrease in tooth and gut size and an increase in body and brain size.

Our historical dietary flexibility is a hallmark of an omnivorous diet. Humans are able to survive off of many different mixes of plants and animal sources and while diet varies greatly across different cultures and geographies, a combination of both food sources has been a consistent feature… until now. For decades, veganism and vegetarianism have become more popular and in recent years we are seeing a pendulum shift with more and more folks transition to carnivorous diets.

The rise of plant-based diets actually started thousands of years ago when ancient societies began adopting vegetarian diets for cultural and religious purposes. Hinduism and Buddhism are both heavily influenced by the principle of nonviolence, which extends to animals therefore discourage consumption of meat. In the 1800s, the world vegetarian rose to the public eye during the Industrial and Agricultural Revolution. At the turn of the century, as mechanized animal farming rose to prominence, publications like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, deterred many from animal products due to the grotesque descriptions the meat packing industry. In the modern era, we have seen similar media attacking animal product consumption such as Cowspiracy, Food Inc., Super Size Me, and Fast Food Nation further pushed consumers towards adopting plant-based diets through fear tactics and vivid depictions of the meat production industry.

So what are we missing when we eliminate meat from our diets? Incorporating real meat into your diet is considered important due to its rich nutritional profile providing essential nutrients that are difficult to get in plant-based foods and non-existent in many of the meatless alternatives. Meat is the best source of high-quality, complete protein, essential for muscle growth, brain function, and a plethora of other bodily functions. Meat provides highly bioavailable iron crucial to prevent iron deficiency anemia. It’s rich in Vitamin B, which is vital for neurological function and the formation of red blood cells. It contains omega-3 fatty acids important for heart health and cognitive function, as well as zinc, an essential mineral important for immune function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division.

Many meat substitutes have been flooding the market in recent decades but have been found to be significantly worse for us containing a laundry list of unpronounceable and often unhealthy ingredients, seed oils, and soy protein concentrate. Many individuals who have been vegan or vegetarian for extended periods of time condemn these alternatives indicating they defeat the purpose of the diet. Due to their highly processed nature, these alternatives can contribute to worse overall health. Owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition, Angie Asche, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., points out, “The purpose of a plant-based diet is to consume more plants, not faux meats that are highly-processed foods.” Research from the National Institutes of Health has linked processed food consumption with weight gain and excess calorie intake.

List of ingredients included in Impossible Burger patties.

On the other side of the argument, we’ve also seen a rise in proponents of the carnivore diet. The carnivore diet consists of only animal-based products, so essentially just meat and dairy. Videos have gone viral on social media of girls eating raw steaks, sticks of butter, bone marrow, and more. The Liver King has amassed a cult like following and has contributed to the rise of liver and liver supplement popularity. Proponents of the carnivore diet argue that animal product offer superior nutritional benefits and provide all essential nutrients necessary for sustenance.

The argument centers around the idea that by eliminating plant-based foods, processed foods, etc. we are returning to a more primal state which should naturally be good for our bodies. Many have pushed back due to a number of issues with the diet that can cause major health issues. The diet is extremely low in fiber, which can contribute to constipation and gut issues, the diet also seems to accelerate and worsen many preexisting conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, any history of stroke or other cardiovascular disease. The diet is high in saturated fats and many different kinds of processed meats contain high levels of sodium which can cause kidney problems as well.

While I’m not promoting one diet over the other nor am I a licensed dietician or nutritionist, like most things in health and wellness, balance is the key. There are many incredible benefits of incorporating animal products into your diet and the same goes for plant-based whole foods. Only living in extremes often leads to issues down the line, so finding what works best for you personally is the most important aspect of choosing a lifestyle diet.

While the fight between vegans and carnivores rages, another fight has come to the forefront, this time in politics. Florida is on the verge of becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban the sale and manufacturing of lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated or cell-based. Proponents of the bill argue that they are aiming to protect Florida’s agriculture and cattle industry from disruptive technology, while ensuring standards for consumer safety and transparency. Some even go as far as to argue that this “fake meat” is an “affront to nature and creation”, expressing ethical concerns about the technology. The opposition believes the legislation will deter innovation and investment in new food tech and harm the broader biotech sector, while unnecessarily restricting market competition and consumer choice. There is also evidence cell-based meat can actually improve food safety, plus it is a very sustainable and eco-friendly production of protein.

Cultivated meat startups raised a record $1.95 billion in 86 deals globally in 2021.

New technology in the space is crucial for broadening consumer choice, enhancing sustainability of food sources, decreasing dependence on imports, and improving the food industry’s impact on our planet. Tensions between tradition and innovation will persist, as we have seen in many industries, but it is important to look at these debates from all angles. The fact of the matter is that meat, plant-based, cell-based, or pure animal meat has spurred up controversy and conflict for many decades and it is only heightened with continued innovation in food technology.

Meat has been a staple in our diet and long viewed as a sign of wealth and prosperity for our nation. Over many decades, debates within the animal-product industry have polarized the topic. Whether it be based on ideas about health and wellness or ethical and industrial concepts, meat will always be an integral part of our identity as a society. I highly encourage, whichever side you take in these debates, make sure to inform yourself and be open-minded to the other side of the argument.